Mechanism for Improved Handling of Conveyor Packages

ABSTRACT

An improved sorting system for use with a conveyor assembly includes a transverse roller conveyor belt for conveying a product to one or more product stations. The sorting system provides a stager system for positioning product on moving conveyor and a diverter system for shuttling product into alternative channels. The system in a preferred embodiment is configured for use with tire handling components, and can be equipped with a bar code reader useable with tires.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/755,568, 12/755,588 and 12/755,614, filed Apr. 7, 2010, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/327,864, filed Dec. 4, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,757,840 and claiming benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/074,858, filed on Jun. 23, 2008, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to conveyor assemblies and more particularly to conveyor assemblies for vehicle tires.

A typical transportation mode for product, such as, for example, green and finished vehicle tires, within a plant utilizes conveyors. Conveyors can be powered or they can rely on gravity when sufficient pitch is present to keep the tires moving from a starting point to a destination.

When the operator desires to transfer a tire from current conveyor to a destination conveyor, diverters often are employed. Diverters can be of different designs and powered hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically, as is necessary, desirable, or convenient.

Frames carrying the conveyor belt carry the diverters. Ease of assembly and life expectancy are important to operators, as is ease of manufacturing to the manufacturer. Important too are value guides, rollers, and other conveyor supporting equipment for minimizing noise, vibration, longevity, and the like.

It is to all of these conveyor components that the present disclosure is directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is an improved conveyor assembly including a conveyor belt for conveying a product to one or more product operations is disclosed. Such conveyor assembly includes a pair of spaced apart side frames that support the conveyor belt and between which the conveyor belt rotates. The conveyor can be configured with transverse roller. The side frames are formed from an upstanding member and a inwardly extending horizontal member. Both the frame upstanding member and the frame horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. One or more L-shaped brackets are formed from a generally upstanding member and an inwardly extending member. Both the bracket upstanding member and the bracket horizontal member carry a series of elongated slots. The bracket horizontal member slots are configured to overlay the frame elongate horizontal member slots, and the bracket upstanding member slots are configured to overlay the frame upstanding member slots for attaching components to the frames.

The system is preferably embodied as a sorting system for sorting product for use with a product primary conveyor apparatus comprising a frame system of a first side rail and a second side rail supporting a transverse roller conveyor belt forming said primary conveyor apparatus; a stager for urging a product being carried on said primary conveyor into a chosen lateral position on the transverse roller conveyor comprising one or more actuatable staging paddles affixed to the frame system and having a paddle face fitted with rollers, which staging paddle urges a product into a position; a diverter for changing a direction of travel of a product being carried by said primary conveyor apparatus to a side conveyor apparatus, said affixed to said first side frame with the diverter being comprised of a diverter piston assembly affixed to said first side frame; a diverter pivot arm pivotally affixed to said first side frame and pivotally connected to said diverter piston assembly; and a diverter paddle affixed to said pivot arm, said diverter piston assembly being actuatable to pivot said diverter pivot arm, said diverter pivot arm in turn causing said diverter paddle to pivot and contact a product being carried by said primary conveyor for diverting said product into a discharge path disposed opposite said diverter.

The stager can further be embodied with an actuatable piston assembly wherein said piston assembly actuates a staging paddle and product is urged into a position against said first side rail prior to said product being contacted by said diverter for diverting said product onto said discharge. The stager can also be equipped with a piston assembly that is an elastomeric compressive piston actuates by the conveyor urging the product against the stager paddle. The sorting system is useful with a variety of products, including one or more of unmounted tires, wheel mounted tires, green tires, drums, canisters or boxes. The sorting system can further comprise a stager with at least two staging paddles, said staging paddles urging said product to the center of said transverse roller conveyor,

Disclosed is an embodiment of a sorting system with a stager in association with a product primary conveyor apparatus, said primary conveyor apparatus including a pair of parallel side frame assemblies carrying therebetween a movable conveyor belt, which comprises an actuatable staging paddle affixed to a second side frame assembly and having a paddle face fitted with rollers, which staging paddle urges a product against a first side rail assembly. The stager can be further embodied with a stager piston assembly pivotally connected to said second side frame and pivotally connected to a movable stager swing arm, said movable stager swing arm also being pivotally connected to said second side frame, said rollered stager paddle being pivotally connected to said moveable stager swing arm where said moveable stager swing arm is pivotally connected to said second side frame.

Another aspect of this disclosure is a diverter in association with a product primary conveyor apparatus for changing direction of travel of a product being carried by the primary conveyor apparatus to a side conveyor apparatus. The diverter includes a side frame supporting the primary conveyor apparatus and a diverter affixed to the side frame and which includes a piston assembly affixed to the side frame; a pivot arm pivotally affixed to the side frame and to the piston assembly with an elastomeric component; and a paddle affixed to the piston assembly and being actuatable to contact a tire being carried by the primary conveyor onto a side conveyor disposed opposite the diverter.

A further embodiment is a centering assembly in association with a product primary conveyor apparatus, where a first actuatable centering paddle affixed to a first side frame assembly and having a face fitted with rollers and a second actuatable centering paddle affixed to a second side frame assembly and having a face fitted with rollers, then together first and second actuatable centering paddles disposed oppositely and simultaneously actuatable for centering product on the movable convey belt. The centering assembly can comprise a first actuatable centering paddle is actuated by a first stager piston assembly affixed to said first side frame, and a pivot bar connects said first stager piston assembly to said second actuatable centering paddle for simultaneously actuating said first and second actuatable centering paddles. Furthermore, the centering assembly may have a first stager piston assembly is pivotally connected to said first side frame and pivotally connected to a movable first stager swing arm, said movable first stager swing arm also being pivotally connected to said first side frame, said first rollered stager paddle and said pivot bar both being pivotally connected to said moveable first stager swing arm where said moveable first stager swing arm is pivotally connected to said first side frame.

A further embodiment is an apparatus for reading a bar code located on a bead of an annular tire which tire is being conveyed by a conveyor system comprising a tire having a circular outside surface and a circular bead edge and a tire bar code disposed between the outside surface and the bead edge; a bar code reader located along the conveyor system while the conveyor system is being conveyed; an inlet from which the tire conveyed on said conveyor system passes into said bar code reader; an outlet from which a tire conveyed on said conveyor passes from said bar code reader; a pair of tire stops that actuate from a home position to an active position to stop said tire's movement on said conveyor; and a pair of forward rollers and a pair of rearward rollers that move into contact with said tire and cause said tire to rotate; Through this system, when a tire being conveyed along the conveyor system enters the bar code reader, the tire stops actuate, the forward and rearward rollers contact the tire, causing the tire to rotate within the bar code reader disposed adjacent to said tire bar code and said bar code reader reads said bar code as said tire rotates. In a further embodiment, the apparatus elevates the tire when the tire stops actuate. In another alternative embodiment, the forward and rearward rollers can be substituted by a central roller and a pair of lateral rollers that contact said tire outside surface and urge the central roller against said inside edge substituted for the forward and rearward rollers, said central and lateral rollers causing said tire to rotate, and when a tire being conveyed along the conveyor system enters the bar code reader, the tire stops actuate, the central and lateral rollers in contact with the tire, causing the tire to rotate within the bar code reader disposed adjacent to said tire bar code and said bar code reader reads said bar code as said tire rotates.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure are delineated in greater detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present assembly and components thereof, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a tire assembly conveyor line that utilizes the various components disclosed herein;

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a control sequence of the tire assembly conveyor line of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is an overhead view of a typical conveyor used in the assembly line with the conveyor belt broken away to reveal the interior assembly of the conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the conveyor depicted in FIG. 2, again with the side frame broken away to reveal interior components of the conveyor;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the conveyor depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the indicated transverse slide bar assembly in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an overhead view of the transverse guide bar assemblies and frame showed in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2 showing the ultimate transverse guide bar assembly;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the guide bar assembly locking mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an overhead view of the transverse terminal guide bar assembly and frame shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the drive plate in the drive plate assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the drive plate holder plates in the drive plate assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the outer plate in the drive plate assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a drive nut in the drive plate assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 19 is a side view of a drive nut of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a drive cup in the drive plate assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 21 is a side view of a drive cup of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an overhead view of the centering apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is a side view of the centering apparatus of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is an end view of the frame (in phantom) and bracket that attaches the centering apparatus of FIG. 22 to the frame;

FIG. 25 is a side view of a universal bracket used to affix various items to the side bar or frame of the conveyor assembly;

FIG. 26 is an overhead or plan view of the tire rotator and bar code reader assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 27 is a side view of the tire rotator and bar code reader assembly of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 an end view of the tire rotator and bar code reader assembly of FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a plan view of an alternative tire rotator and bar code reader assembly design;

FIG. 30 is a side view of the alternative tire rotator and bar code reader assembly design of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a plan view of the stager assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 32 is a side view of the stager assembly of FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is an end view of the stager assembly of FIG. 31;

FIG. 34 is an overhead view of the stager assembly of FIG. 31;

FIG. 35 an end view of the stager assembly of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is side view of the first diverter assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 37 is a plan view of the second diverter assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 38 is an end view of the second diverter assembly of FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a side view of the second diverter assembly of FIG. 37;

FIG. 40 is a plan view of the third diverter assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 41 is an end view of the third diverter assembly of FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is a side elevational view of the third diverter assembly of FIG. 40;

FIG. 43 is a plan view of the corner roller assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 44 is a side elevational view of the corner roller assembly of FIG. 43.

The drawings will be described in further detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The tire conveyor assembly shown in FIG. 1 merely illustrates the various components of the conveyor assembly and is not a limitation of the disclosure set forth herein. Rather, FIG. 1 illustrates the flexibility of the disclosed conveyor assembly. Moreover, the arrangement of the components that comprise the conveyor assembly likewise is merely illustrative in that many other configurations can be envisioned based on the present disclosure. Also, the conveyor assembly will be described with specific reference to unmounted vehicle tires, but the conveyor assembly also is useful for wheel mounted tires, green tires, cardboard boxes, and a variety of other products.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, a tire conveyor assembly, 10, is composed generally of a main conveyor assembly, 12, and four side conveyor assemblies, 14, 16, 18, and 20. The lengths of each such conveyor assemblies can be varied greatly, as can the number of side conveyors, location and arrangement of side conveyors, etc.

Conveyor assembly 12 has a feed end, 22, whereat tires enter tire conveyor assembly 10. While the tires can be mounted on wheels, tire conveyor assembly 10 as shown is intended to operate with unmounted tires. Conveyor assembly 12 is composed of a first driven conveyor assembly, 24, a gravity driven roller assembly, 26, and a second driven conveyor assembly, 28. First driven conveyor assembly 24 is driven by a hydraulic motor, 30, and second driven conveyor assembly 28 is driven by a hydraulic motor, 32. While all power is supply by hydraulic lines herein, it will be appreciated by the skilled artisan that pneumatic, electric, or other motive means could be used in place of and/or in combination with the hydraulic power illustrated in the drawings.

A tire on powered conveyor 24, such as a representative tire, 34, initially encounters a centering assembly, 36, that centers tire on conveyor assembly 24. The tire next encounters gravity fed roller assembly 26 where the tire enters into a tire rotator and bar code reader assembly, 38, which captures the tire and rotates the tire so that a bar code reader can read the bar code that was placed on the tire bead. The information gleaned by the bar code reader is used to determine the route that the tire will take and the operations that will be performed on the tire during its course through tire conveyor assembly 10.

The tire emergences from tire rotator and bar code reader assembly 38 and continues its gravity driven travel down roller assembly 26 and onto powered conveyor assembly 28 whereat the tire is confronted by a tire stager assembly, 39. Stager assembly 39 urges the tire, such as a tire, 40, to the far side of conveyor assembly 28 and up against the far side of the conveyor. Alternatively, variations of the stager system can center, or otherwise locate a tire or other product being conveyed. The reason for this operation will become apparent below.

Next, tire 40 can be diverted onto one of four side tire conveyor assemblies, 14, 16, 18, and 20. Tire 40 will be diverted onto one of these side conveyors depending up what operation yet need to be performed on the tire, which, as discussed above, is a function of the bar code on the tire. Mounted to the side opposite the side where the four side conveyors are located along powered conveyor 28 are four diverter assemblies, 42, 44, 46, and 48. All of the diverters are powered except for diverter assembly 48.

First diverter assembly 42 can be actuated to push a tire, 50, onto gravity roller conveyor assembly 14. Second diverter assembly 44 can be actuated to push a tire, 52, onto gravity roller conveyor assembly 16. Third diverter assembly 44 can be actuated to push a tire, 56, onto gravity roller conveyor assembly 18. Finally, a tire, 58, bumps into roller diverter assembly 48 and is shunted onto gravity roller assembly 20.

Operation assemblies, 60, 62, 64, and 66, can be one or more of a grinder, a stacker, an inspection station, an elevator, or the like. Any number of operations can be performed on a tire in addition to those operations recited herein.

While many schemes can be envisioned for control of tire conveyor assembly 10, one representative control sequence is illustrated in FIG. 1A where the bar code reader output, 11, from tire rotator and bar code reader 38 is inputted into a controller, 13, which may contain a central processor unit (CPU) or computer, 15. Outputs, 17A, 17B, and 17N for N outputs from CPU 15 may be required to be passed through digital to analog converters (D/A), 19A, 19B, and 19N, for the N outputs. Analog outputs from the D/A converters are fed to diverter actuators, 21A, 21B, and 21N, along with tire sensor data, 23A, 23B, and 23N, which alert the actuator that a tire is in position, at which time each diverter actuator sends a signal to the diverters, 25A, 25B, and 25N, to actuate and divert a tire onto a side conveyor assembly. N can be any number, provided that the CPU is capable to N outputs.

Referring to FIG. 2 relating to the powered conveyor assemblies, a belt, 68, moves along the longitudinal extent of each powered conveyor assembly 24 and 28. Additionally, belt 68 contains a myriad of small rollers mounted transverse to the direction of travel of belt 68, such as a representative roller, 70. Roller 70 permits tires to be pushed in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of belt 68 with the tire being easily movable as it moves along roller 70 and the other transverse mounted small rollers. Side frames, 72 and 74, run the entire length of the power conveyor assemblies and are unique in structure and function, as will be revealed in greater detail later herein.

At the left side of FIG. 2 is the end of the powered conveyor assembly shown thereat, such as feed end 22 of powered conveyor assembly 24. In particular, drive motor 30 is shown affixed to a drive roller assembly, 76, which spans between and is retained by side frames 72 and 74. Also spanning between side frames 72 and 74 a conveyor belt return roller assembly, 78, and a wear bar assembly, 80, and upon which belt 68 rests as it travels. On the return end is a conveyor belt return roller assembly, 82, and an end return roller assembly, 84, about which belt 68 wraps.

In the side view shown in FIG. 3, side frame 74 is seen along with drive roller assembly 76, return roller assembly 84, belt return rollers 78 and 82, and wear bar assembly 80. In FIG. 4, drive roller assembly 76 is connected to drive motor 30 and spanning between side frames 72 and 76. Side frames 72 and 74 are seen to include a lower section carrying a number of vertically oriented slots and an inwardly extending flange having a series of slots (see FIG. 2). Thus, various components can be affixed to and carried by side frames 72 and 76 using both of these series of slots.

In particular, a series of apertures have been formed in side frames 72 and 74 and through which the ends of roller assemblies 76, 78, 80 and 82 can be placed for their retention. Wear bar assembly 80 is seen retained in place by bolts, 86 and 88, which are placed in the apertures of side frames 72 and 76 (see FIG. 5). A number of such wear bar assemblies span between side frames 72 and 76 in order to support a series of longitudinally extending wear strips, 90, 92, 94, 96, and 97 (see FIG. 2) which in turn support belt 68 (see FIG. 5).

In FIG. 3, motor assembly 30 is affixed to side frame 74 by an angle bracket, 98, which is bolted to side frame 74. Motor 30 provides direct drive to power roller assembly 76 in the configuration illustrated; although, use of a belt drive, chain drive, or other power transmission assembly could be used. A central drive roller, 100, is seen held in position on drive roller 76 by a pair of clips, 102 and 104, while the other rollers “float” or are permitted to travel along the extent of roller 76 responsive to loads placed atop belt 68.

Side frames 72 and 74 are shown in side profile in FIG. 5 and plan view in FIG. 7 with slide bar assembly 80 bolted onto each of such side frames. Wear bar 94 is seen in the expanded view in FIG. 6 to fit within a trapezoidally-shaped recess in wear bar 80 to form a “mortise and tenon” locking mechanism that keeps wear bar 94, and the other wear bars, in place supporting belt 68 upon which belt 68 moves. It will also be seen that end wear bars 90 and 97 have upwardly extending flanges to help keep belt 68 in place. The wear bars terminate in terminal wear bar assemblies, 106 and 108 (see FIG. 2). The slots, 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118, formed in slide bar assembly 80 and which carry wear strips 90, 92, 94, 96, and 97, are seen in FIG. 7.

Side frames 72 and 74 are shown in side profile in FIG. 5 and plan view in FIG. 7 with wear or slide bar assembly 80 bolted onto each of such side frames. Wear strip 96 is seen in the expanded view in FIG. 6 to fit within a trapezoidally-shaped recess in holder 85 to form a “mortise and tenon” locking mechanism that keeps wear strip 96, and the other wear strips, in place supporting belt 68 upon which belt 68 moves. It will also be seen that end wear strips 90 and 97 have upwardly extending flanges to help keep belt 68 in place. The wear bars terminate in terminal wear bar assemblies, 106 and 108 (see FIG. 2). The slots, 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118, formed in slide bar assembly 80 and which carry wear strips 90, 92, 94, 96, and 97, are seen in FIG. 7. From FIG. 3, holder 85 is seen to be an upside down “U” in configuration.

In FIG. 8, end wear bar assembly 108 is seen in greater detail. Retention of the wear strip ends is seen in the expanded view in FIGS. 9 and 10 specifically for slide bar 96, but such retention is typical for all of the slide bars. Such retention includes a clip assembly, 120, that includes a flat plate, 122, and a notched angle plate, 124, held together by bolt assembly, 126, that is associated with a retention bar, 128 (see FIG. 11). Notched angle plate 124 retains slide bar 96 within its notch. Tightening of bolt assembly 126 causes notched angle plate 124 to rotate against slide bar 96 in a cam-like action to firmly retain it. The simplicity of action of clip assembly 120 makes it easy to install the wear bars during initial installation, adjust the tension of clip assembly 120 during operation, and replace the wear bars when required.

Returning to FIG. 3, drive roller assembly 76 includes a toothed drive wheel assembly, 130, that engages belt 68. Toothed drive wheel assembly 130 is seen in greater detail in FIGS. 12-21 to include a pair of out outer scalloped wheels, 132 and 134 (see FIG. 17), a pair of inner apertured plates, 136 and 138 (see FIG. 16), a central split drive wheel, 140 (see FIG. 15), a drive shaft, 142, a central drive nut, 144 (see FIGS. 18 and 19), and sixteen drive cups as represented by a drive cup, 146 (see FIGS. 20 and 21). Each of wheels 132-140 is a central aperture in which drive nut 144 is disposed. The aperture in drive nut 144 is square in shape to accommodate square drive shaft 142. The scallops of scalloped wheels 132 and 134 retain drive cup 146 and the other drive cups therebetween. The entire sandwich assembly is secured by eight nut and bolt assemblies, such as typified by nut and bolt assemblies, 148 and 150 (see FIG. 13). While 16 drive cups and 8 bolt assemblies have been illustrated, obviously a greater or lesser number can be provided, as is necessary, desirable, or convenient.

Returning again to FIG. 1, centering assembly 36 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 22-24. In particular centering assembly 36 is seen to include a pair of paddles, 152 and 154, whose inside faces contain a series of small rollers, such as a typical roller, 156, to facilitate smooth contact between the paddles and tire 34 as they make contact. A pivot bar, 158, interconnects paddles 152 and 154 and is disposed beneath the conveyor assembly. Pivot bar 158 is pivotally connected to a paddle 156, via a drive rod (not shown). Pivot bar 158 also is pivotally connected to a swing arm, 160. Swing arm 160 also is connected to a hydraulic piston assembly, 162, via another drive rod, 163 (see FIG. 23). Piston assembly 162 in turn is connected to side frame 74 by a bracket, 164 (see FIGS. 23 and 24), through the slots provided along the top and sides of frame 74 (see FIGS. 23 and 24). Such slots in side frame 74 permits centering assembly 36 to be located at any point along the conveyor assembly and to be re-located at any time in the future easily and quickly. Paddle assembly 152 is affixed to frame 72 by a bracket, 165. Alignment of paddles 154 and 152, is facile since brackets 164 and 165 can be adjusted along the extend of their respective rails 72 and 74, in part due to the slots of rails 72 and 74, and the slots of brackets 164 and 165.

Paddle 154, then, is a driven or powered paddle, while paddle 152 is a slave paddle. The angle between the out tips of paddles 154 and 156 can be mechanically adjusted to accommodate the size of tires to be handled at any given time during operation and the resistance pressure required provided by paddles 152 and 154 against tire 34 can be adjusted by the pressure maintained in piston assembly 162. Tire 34 will be moved to the center of belt 68 by paddles 152 and 154 with the rollers facilitating smooth movement of tire 34. Once tire 34 reaches the center between paddles 152 and 154, tire 34 will be pulled through the paddles by belt 68 and the slight opening of paddles 154 and 156. Tire 34 and other tires on the belt 68 now are centered when they enter the next stage, which in FIG. 1 is tire rotator and bar code reader 38. Of course, other Operation assemblies, such as typified by operations assemblies 60, 62, 64, and 66, could follow centering assembly 36.

A universal bracket, 166, is illustrated in FIG. 25, which can be used to affix a variety of components to the side frames. Bracket 166 will be so illustrated later in the instant description.

Return again to FIG. 1, tire rotator and bar code reader 38 is described in greater detail in FIGS. 26-28 with an alternative design being illustrated in FIGS. 29-30. A representative tire, 168, is seen located in operative position within tire rotator and bar code reader 38 for a bar code reader assembly, 170, to read the bar code disposed along a tire bead, 172, located on tire 168. A roller conveyor formed from a plurality of rollers carriers tire 168 into reader assembly 38 where a pair of pneumatic powered stops, 174 and 176 (see FIGS. 27 and 28 in particular) raise up and stop tire 168. A cylinder assembly, 178, is connected to rotatable assemblies, 180, 182, 184, and 186, which causes rollers, 188, 190, 192, and 194 (see, for example, FIG. 29), to pivot inwardly up and against tire 168. Each of rollers 188, 190, 192, and 194 also are powered to rotate, thus causing tire 168 to also rotate. From FIG. 27, it will be seen that conveyor 26 rollers at this junction also are slightly higher in elevation than the rollers upstream and downstream of this captured position for tire 168 and split to permit the tire to rotate. Such tire rotation moves bead 172 underneath and across reader 170 to permit the bar code to be read. Once the bar code has been read, rollers 188, 190, 192, and 194 rotate outwardly back to their home position, which releases tire 168, which by gravity continues its travel downwardly along roller conveyor 26 to the next operation. Similarly configured bar code readers can be installed at positions where a rotatable product is moving along a driven conveyor belt.

FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a tire rotator and bar code reader assembly. In particular, tire 168 moves atop slightly raised and split rollers, as before, and into contact with a pair of raised stops, 197 and 199, also as before. A pair of piston assemblies, 196 and 198, are interconnected via a rod, 200, to rotate a pair of rollers, 202 and 204, from a home position spaced apart from tire 168 to a position in contact with tire 168 and into intimate contact with a third roller, 206. Rollers 202 and 204 also rotate to cause tire 168 to also rotate with the bead, 206, disposed beneath a bar code reader, 208. Once the bar code has been read, the stop pins lower, the rotating rollers retract, and tire 168 moves down the roller conveyor to the next operation.

Referring again to FIG. 1, tire 40 next encounters stager 39, which is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 31-33. A housing, 210 (shown in phantom), protects stager 39 during plant operation. A paddle, 212, again has a series of rollers along its face that confronts and contacts tire 40. In this embodiment a piston assembly, 214, is affixed a moveable swing arm, 215, which is connected to side rail 72 by a bracket, 216, which again can be located at any location along the extent of rail 72 (or rail 74, if desired or required) and can be easily and readily re-located should such relocation be necessary, desirable, or convenient.

In action, piston assembly 214 retracts to rotate swing arm 215 which in turn causes swing arm or paddle 212 to rotate and push tire 40 up against far side rail 74. Side rail 74 has been fitted to a roller assembly, 218, connected to rail 74 by universal bracket 166 (see FIG. 25). Roller assembly 218 consists of an upstanding bracket portion carrying a series of rollers (described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 43 and 44) disposed at a vertical elevation for being contacted by tire 40 to facilitate tire 40's movement as it is carried by belt 68.

Tire 50 has been moved against side rail 74 in order for it to be in proper position for being contacted by diverter 42 or by diverter 44 or by diverter 46. Referring initially to FIGS. 34-36 that illustrate diverter 42 in greater detail, diverter 42 is disposed within a housing, 220, for its protection and for the protection of workers passing by. Diverter 42 includes a paddle arm, 222, carried by an upstanding rotatable pin, 224, that is pivotally connected to a pivot arm, 226, that in turn is pivotally connected to a piston assembly, 228, that in turn is connected to side rail 74, by a bracket assembly, 230. The pivot connection pivot arm 226 and the rod of piston assembly 228 is fitted with an elastomeric grommet, 229, for absorbing any force transmitted back through paddle 222 when a tire is contacted.

A vibration dampening system can be configured with the stager system (or with diverters disclosed below) that is constructed as a piston and cylinder arrangement, wherein the piston bears against an elastomeric compound partially filling the cylinder. A stager arm equipped with the vibration damping cylinder, when the force of an oncoming tire bears against the stager paddle, the force is initially absorbed by the compression of the vibration damping cylinder, rather than by the stager arm assembly only. Without the damping action, excessive forces may be applied to the stager paddle, or the stager pivot, resulting in accelerated failure of those components.

As before, the design of side rail 74 permits bracket assembly 230 to be located at any point along the lengthwise extent of side rail 74 initially and to be relocated to any other position along side rail 74 (or side rail 72 for that matter) readily and quickly by plant personnel. Paddle 22 rotates when piston 228 extends or pushes outwardly on arm 226. Tire 40 was pushed up against rail 74 so that tire 50 is in physical contact with arm 222 when arm 222 is activated to push tire onto side conveyor assembly 14. If tire 50 were not in physical contact with arm 222 when activated, the force with which arm 222 would hit tire 50 would likely result in arm 222 being broken or damage. Thus, the purpose for stager 39 is revealed.

Tire 52 has been shown diverted onto conveyor assembly 16 by diverter 44. While diverter 44 is different in construction that diverter 42 (and diverter 46), any one of the diverters could be substituted for another diverter as is necessary, desirable, or convenient.

Diverter 44 is more fully illustrated in FIGS. 37-39 and again is housed within a cover, 232. Diverter 44 includes a paddle arm, 234, connected to an upstanding pivot arm, 236, which is pivotally connected to a pivot arm, 238, which is connected to a piston assembly, 240, which is connected to side frame 74 by a bracket assembly, 242. Again, bracket assembly 242 has slots, which along with the slots in side frame 74, permit adjustment of bracket assembly 242, locating of bracket 242 anywhere along side frame 74, and movement readily and easily to a new location along either side frame 74 or side frame 72. The pivot connection pivot arm 238 and the rod of piston assembly 240 is fitted with an elastomeric grommet, 239, for absorbing any force transmitted back through paddle 234 when a tire is contacted.

Diverter assembly 44 pulls to cause rotation of paddle arm 234 by retraction of piston assembly 240. Because of this design, diverter assembly 44 takes up less space along the extent of side frame 74 than does the design of diverter assembly 42, described above.

Referring back to FIG. 1 yet again, tire 56 has been pushed onto side conveyor assembly 18 by diverter 46. Diverter 46 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 40-42. Diverter 46 is located within a housing, 244. Diverter 46 includes a pushrod assembly, 246, that can be the rod of a piston assembly, 248. A bracket assembly, 250, secures piston assembly 248 to side frame 74. A push plate, 252, terminates pushrod assembly 246 and physically pushes against a tire to change the tires direction by 90° from belt 68 onto side conveyor assembly 18. Again, bracket assembly 250 has slots, which along with the slots in side frame 74, permit adjustment of bracket assembly 250, locating of bracket 250 anywhere along side frame 74, and movement readily and easily to a new location along either side frame 74 or side frame 72.

When tire 56 is contacted by pushplate 252, it is possible that tire 56 may carry some forward momentum due to the movement of belt 68. In order to accommodate for this forward momentum, a roller assembly, 254 (see FIGS. 43 and 44), is provided at the upstream juncture belt 68 and side conveyor assembly 18.

Roller assembly 254 is attached to side frame 72 by a bracket assembly, 255, and carries an upstanding roller, 256, that urges tire 56 onto side conveyor assembly 18 and dampens any forward momentum of tire 56. Side frame 72 also is seen to bear a roller assembly, 258, thereabove, as illustrated earlier.

Finally, any tires traveling along belt 68 that have not already been diverted reach the termination of belt 68. For example and referring again to FIG. 1, a tire, 58, contacts diverter 48, which can simply be two upstanding plates whose faces bear a series of small rollers. Diverter 48 urges tire 58 onto final side assembly 20.

Referring an ultimate time to FIG. 1, side conveyor system 14 is fitted with an escapement or accumulator apparatus, 260, which is not unlike centering apparatus 36. Escapement apparatus 260, however, does not merely center tires, but acts as a gate to feed tires forward to operation assembly 60 at a pre-determined rate and/or when operation assembly 60 is ready for a next tire to process. To that end, the cylinder assemblies that control the paddles that retain the tires in escapement 260 actuate to pass a tire through based on a control signal.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the sequence of centering units, bar code readers, stagers, diverters, and the like, can be different in number and location from that illustrated in the drawings. In particular, such units can be used in a different order, in series or parallel, or the like, depending upon the needs of the plant and operations required.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential scope. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to any particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, rather the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. In this application the US measurement system is used, unless otherwise expressly indicated. All citations referred herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined, all terms are considered to be defined according to Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridged Second edition. 

1. A sorting system for sorting product for use with a product primary conveyor apparatus comprising: a) a frame system of a first side rail and a second side rail supporting a transverse roller conveyor belt forming said primary conveyor apparatus; (b) a stager for urging a product being carried on said primary conveyor into a chosen lateral position on the transverse roller conveyor comprising one or more actuatable staging paddles affixed to the frame system and having a paddle face fitted with rollers, which staging paddle urges a product into a position; (c) a diverter for changing a direction of travel of a product being carried by said primary conveyor apparatus to a side conveyor apparatus, said affixed to said first side frame and comprising: (i) a diverter piston assembly affixed to said first side frame; (ii) a diverter pivot arm pivotally affixed to said first side frame and pivotally connected to said diverter piston assembly; and (iii) a diverter paddle affixed to said pivot arm, said diverter piston assembly being actuatable to pivot said diverter pivot arm, said diverter pivot arm in turn causing said diverter paddle to pivot and contact a product being carried by said primary conveyor for diverting said product into a discharge path disposed opposite said diverter.
 2. The stager of claim 1 further comprising, an actuatable piston assembly wherein said piston assembly actuates a staging paddle and product is urged into a position against said first side rail prior to said product being contacted by said diverter for diverting said product onto said discharge.
 3. The stager of claim 2, wherein said piston assembly is an elastomeric compressive piston actuates by the conveyor urging the product against the stager paddle.
 4. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said product is one or more of unmounted tires, wheel mounted tires, green tires, drums, canisters or boxes.
 6. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said stager further comprises at least two staging paddles, said staging paddles urging said product to the center of said transverse roller conveyor.
 7. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said rollered stager paddle is actuated by a stager piston assembly affixed to a second side frame disposed opposite and parallel to said first side frame.
 8. The sorting system of claim 1, wherein said stager piston assembly is pivotally connected to said second side frame and pivotally connected to a movable stager swing arm, said movable stager swing arm also being pivotally connected to said second side frame, said rollered stager paddle being pivotally connected to said moveable stager swing arm where said moveable stager swing arm is pivotally connected to said second side frame.
 9. A stager in association with a product primary conveyor apparatus, said primary conveyor apparatus including a pair of parallel side frame assemblies carrying therebetween a movable conveyor belt, which comprises an actuatable staging paddle affixed to a second side frame assembly and having a paddle face fitted with rollers, which staging paddle urges a product against a first side rail assembly.
 10. The stager of claim 9, wherein said stager comprises a staging paddle having a face fitted with rollers, which staging paddle urges said product against said first side rail.
 11. The stager of claim 10, wherein said rollered stager paddle is actuated by a stager piston assembly affixed to said second side frame.
 12. The stager of claim 9, wherein said stager piston assembly is pivotally connected to said second side frame and pivotally connected to a movable stager swing arm, said movable stager swing arm also being pivotally connected to said second side frame, said rollered stager paddle being pivotally connected to said moveable stager swing arm where said moveable stager swing arm is pivotally connected to said second side frame.
 13. A centering assembly in association with a product primary conveyor apparatus, said primary conveyor apparatus including a pair of parallel side frame assemblies carrying therebetween a movable transverse roller conveyor belt, which comprises: (a) an first actuatable centering paddle affixed to a first side frame assembly and having a face fitted with rollers; and (b) a second actuatable centering paddle affixed to a second side frame assembly and having a face fitted with rollers, said first and second actuatable centering paddles disposed oppositely and simultaneously actuatable for centering product on said movable convey belt.
 14. The centering assembly of claim 13, wherein said first actuatable centering paddle is actuated by a first stager piston assembly affixed to said first side frame, and a pivot bar connects said first stager piston assembly to said second actuatable centering paddle for simultaneously actuating said first and second actuatable centering paddles.
 15. The centering assembly of claim 14, wherein said first stager piston assembly is pivotally connected to said first side frame and pivotally connected to a movable first stager swing arm, said movable first stager swing arm also being pivotally connected to said first side frame, said first rollered stager paddle and said pivot bar both being pivotally connected to said moveable first stager swing arm where said moveable first stager swing arm is pivotally connected to said first side frame.
 16. An apparatus for reading a bar code located on a bead of an annular tire which tire is being conveyed by a conveyor system comprising (a) a tire having a circular outside surface and a circular bead edge and a tire bar code disposed between the outside surface and the bead edge; (b) a bar code reader located along the conveyor system while the conveyor system is being conveyed; (c) an inlet from which the tire conveyed on said conveyor system passes into said bar code reader; (d) an outlet from which a tire conveyed on said conveyor passes from said bar code reader; (e) a pair of tire stops that actuate from a home position to an active position to stop said tire's movement on said conveyor; and (f) a pair of forward rollers and a pair of rearward rollers that move into contact with said tire and cause said tire to rotate; whereby when a tire being conveyed along the conveyor system enters the bar code reader, the tire stops actuate, the forward and rearward rollers contact the tire, causing the tire to rotate within the bar code reader disposed adjacent to said tire bar code and said bar code reader reads said bar code as said tire rotates.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the conveyor elevates the tire when the tire stops actuate.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising (g) a central roller; (h) a pair of lateral rollers that contact said tire outside surface and urge the central roller against said inside edge substituted for the forward and rearward rollers, said central and lateral rollers causing said tire to rotate; whereby when a tire being conveyed along the conveyor system enters the bar code reader, the tire stops actuate, the central and lateral rollers in contact with the tire, causing the tire to rotate within the bar code reader disposed adjacent to said tire bar code and said bar code reader reads said bar code as said tire rotates.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the conveyor elevates the tire when the tire stops actuate.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said annular tire is one or more of unmounted tires, wheel mounted tires, or green tires. 